Open for business

Who says farmer’s markets are just for us humans? The vendors packing the Town Common for the eighth annual Winchester Farmers Market, which opened for the season last Saturday, certainly do not.

Katie Collings of Cambridge-based Camberville Dog Treats, for example, created her organic pet treats out of necessity for her companion Maeve, a rescued pup who suffered from digestive issues when she was brought home. Since Maeve can’t eat milk or dairy, Collings crafted treats for easy eating with organic oats.

More than 20 tents grace the small patch of grass in the shadows of the T stop, a reminder to those who visited that food grown from the earth is available to those who have never milked a cow, grown a plant or picked an apple. “Every year it keeps growing,” said organizer Fred Yen.

Farmers markets are important because they bring the country to the city, and “gives people fresh food,” said Brett Estes, owner of Warner Farm in Sunderland. In a sprawling, metropolitan area like Boston, produce straight from the farm is still a treat, he said.

One would be hard pressed to find a business that has been around longer than Warner Farm. Family owned since 1720, the farm started cranking out veggies 12 years before George Washington was born.

Estes spoke with pride about their garlic scapes, only available for a very short window in spring. The scapes are the top art of the garlic plant, before the bulb. They taste like a snappy green bean infused with the punch of garlic. They are ideal for stir-fries, according to Estes.

Wendy Jo New of Winchester has been selling her jewelry since the market’s inception. A member of the Winchester Chamber of Commerce, she and other artisans sell their hand-crafted goods each week on the Common among the cheeses, meats and fruits of other vendors. “This is a great market,” said New.

The manager of Winchester’s own Wright-Locke, Adrienne Altstatt, will be selling produce grown by herself and her three full-time employees throughout the summer and fall. They are also promoting their “Family Farm Nights” every Thursday. Starting June 18, families will be welcome to picnic on the property starting at 5:30 p.m.

Enthusiastic chatter could be heard among the market-goers. Tess Ward of Arlington, and Kellie Harrington of Waltham talked about cooking with the market’s fresh ingredients.

“I want to be on Iron Chef,” says Ward, whose mother is a chef.

”She’s good,” said Harrington.

The appreciation of the product extends beyond the shopper. Mutual admiration for other merchants runs deep at the market. Amy Hirschfeld of Soluna Garden Farm in the Center has a dog that is a big fan of Collings’ Camberville Dog Treats.